The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-10-18

Notwithstanding attractions of the law, squr-
res and birds might stand some show were it
not for the, senseless vanity that prompts even
men who seek to dignity themselves
with at, the title Of sportsman to xii
pleasure of boasting thereof. The pot
hunter who kills for the market is proba-
bly, beyond redemption, but the unproGtable-
ness of his vocation in the thickiy settled por-
ton of this country protects them from his
ravages Though the woods are at present
glorious enough to subdue the passions of an
observant person, the following couplet does
not reach the perception of the average hum
ter, even though he may be member of
sportsmans association:
Nota beauty blows,
And not an opening blossom brcathes in vain.
You hear the average squirrel shooter boast
that he killed SO many squirrels, and it is
evident that he, while sneaking through the
woods, was obivious to forest charm. These
murdererS do not in the love of nature hold
communion with her in her visible forms, rs
Bryant expresses it, but, animated by the
spirit that King Saul was eXhorted TO show in
his war on Amalek, they are bent on indis
criminate slaughter of the innocent denizens
of the Forest that are thought by experience
to dread man more than the rattesnake and
all other marauders combined who merely
hunt to support existence. The first of
September is the last day of grace for
the squirrel in each year. From that day until
there is scarce seed left for the next years
crop these hunters sneak into the woods before
daybreak and like assassins lie in wait for their
prey. The squirrel comes forth with sharp APP
petite for his breakfast and is shot by sports
men (?) with a shotgun that covers circum-
ference 30 inches in diameter with its leaden
hail. Aud this is called sport Any boy who
has patience to sneak can perform the feat
with ease, and with most of these hunters any
thing is fish that comes to their nets. They will
shoot grouse or quail rs quiCllly without giving it
the option of flying as they viii a squirrel and
once they get it into their gamc-bagS they are
as secure rs though the 10Th of October had
come. The result is that although there are
yet noble forests in Allegheny county that the
Woodman has spared, they are so completely
despoiied OF animate charms that they would
not now inspire the descriptive genius of Bry-
ant, or give Mrs. Sigourney heart to discourse
of the beauties Of Indian summer; nothing
that suggested to the imaginative Greek
Maids, breads, Hephyrs, Satyrs or the mighty
Pan, but on the contrary suggestions OF
waitings of the spirits of slaughtered innOcents
that once by their gambols and melody lent an
irresistible charm TO an American sylvan scene
i'll autumn.
SHOULD AMEND THE GAME LAW.
Tho legislature ought TO add an amendment
to the game law. making it II punishable Of
Tense to shoot squirrel with shotgun, and
requiring every hunter TO depOse under the
temporal pains and penalties OF perjury that
he had shot every gray and black squirrel
found i'll his possession with rifle. By this
means squirrels would be given at least one
year 10 nlultlpiy, ana 10 NOulu greatly ululH-
ish the slaughter for many years At the same
time an army of skilled marIsmen would
grow up, the services of which the nation,
under our imperfect civilization, may yet
need.
Formerly very few squirrels were shot until
the leaves fell, until
The groves
In feeting cOlors wrote their own decay,
And leaves fell eddylng on the sharpened bla&
That sang their dirSe,
and then there was some chivalry among the
hunters. They used rifles, and many of them
disdained to shoot q squirrel anywhere except
through the head. There are few of these
old-timers left, and they still prefer the muz-
zle-loader; and there are still a few sections in
this state where their style of squirrel hunting
can yet be enjoyed. They and al other game
and song birds in this section are softerorized
that tho hunter can only heaf the
plaintiYe notes of the cheWink or
ground robin, the defiant squall of the cat
bird, the tapping Of the sapsuCker seeking
for worms, and the discordant cries Of the
chckaree, or red squirrel sciuruS IiudSonius.
The latter is an Ishmaelte among squirrels,
and should be held in abhorroncc by the
friends of the gray and black squirrels He
wages relentless war ON the males of these
Species and miscegOnatcs with their fomales
producing mule of the meanost appearance.
This variety is very easily killed, for 1t Is as
impudent as weasel, but its agility and
ferocity makes it a match for half n dozen of
the larger kinds.
If you would enjoy squirrel hunt TO tho
utmost take n train some day early in October
when the frost has stripped the leaves from
the trees on tho mountain ridges Of either
Pennsylvania or West Virginia Find some
place remote from towns. The hotel accommo-
dations will not be irst-claSS, but tho fare is
abundant and clean and beds warm. Arise
early in the morning, and with q good rifle
sally out before daybreaS. The more frosty
the morning the better, provided the day is q
clear one. About the time the sun reddens
the eastern horizon is the best for operations.
II you haven't secured a dog you can generally
get one at the first farm house you come to by
SHOWING YOUR GUN
20 the first cur that banks at you. Give him
something agreeable to n dogs palate, and
that and the gun make him your attendant as
long as you stay in the neighborhood. If with
III Il few minutes after you get into the timber
you do not see what you want, tho dog by yelp-
ing at the root OF some tree, will inform you
there is q squirrel on that one. Use n long,
muzzle-loading squirrel rifle. Don't take
rest-it isn't fair. If you have sneryo and
eye you can kill squirrels by shoot
ing off-hand. When the dog has
indicated the tree, if it be q black squirrel yOu
will generally see il at first glance; if gray
you will at first be apt to take his bushy tail
for moss, but short experience will soon en-
able you TO determine at u glance. You have
now am inch and half to shoot at, at dis
lance Of twenty-five to thirty-iiye yards, much
better than target practice, and You need not
be nervous, for, 'if at first you don't succeed"
all you nave 10 90 is 'uyj Try again. Inc
squirrel is usually more afraid Of the dog than
he IS Of you, and the practice is better than
any to be found in shooting galleries. When
the squirrel drops you must allow the dog to
give the body a shake. lie regards it as his
right and as his part in the exploit After he
has tossed the squirrel as n terrier does u rat,
his work is accomplished, so far as that SPUR
rel is concerned, and he starts to tree another,
and if you are not quick ut loading you win
generally hear him yelp again before you have
your gun capped. If you are at all expert
and the wind docs not blow, you
will have Us many squirrels by night as anyone
not hog can WISH Almost all tho dogs on
these ridges have been taught to tree squirrels,
and a cur of low degree sapt to do better than
any dog Of fine breed. lie enjoys the sport
with as much zest as the lteenest bped hunter.
Some Of them show the utmost contempt for
poor marksman after the failure Of his fifth
or sixth Bhoot--words could not express
it more plainly. No more than two
hunters should 60 together. Two can hunt
much more successfully than one, as the
squirrel will frequently foil one man by shift
ing round the tree just as fast as the hunter
can travel and as the squirrel has less cir
cumference 10 travel he can keep UP the play
the longest. No ardent spirits are needed on
n trip Of this kind, and If the hunter feels that